A True Grinder's JourneyDon't knock on the fish tank and give them directions to the atm if they have been giving you shit. Let donks give you all the shit they want. Let them feel empowered to come back and "beat you". The shittier they are the tougher you should let them feel. I play 2 days a week at borgata and I have free rooms all the time. Don't know why ur at Ballys.Posted in: Live Poker

Heads up feedbackThat is a tricky one. I don't like to just go on HUD. It's very villain dependent. If you had some over agg villains you should 3b more. If you have passive you can 3b a bit less. It's way different than 9 handed play which is much more mechanical in early to mid pos. Heads up play is just player dependent. If you made the right plays to win the tourney than you did the right thing.Posted in: Poker Advice

Words of warning - My story with Brendon “Brendooor/Brendon1717” Rubie:My point is not that he isn't telling the complete truth. He obviously is. He admitted to backing him even after learning of his multi accounting. And fine if he doesn't want others to get screwed. So, if this guy made good to his backer he wouldn't get outted for multi accounting and this guy would keep reeping the benefits and would not call him out on cheating because his pockets would keep getting fatter. I hear alot of defending this guy because he is telling the truth. Whatever. Please tell me how it's ok to back someone you know multi accounts because he shows a profit. I never called ...Posted in: Poker Community

Playing at a new casino with regsYou can't assume they know each other that well or just struck up conversation over the course of playing for a few hours. Even if they did spend every day there together that does not mean they are any good. Be confident in your game and get some reads on them.Posted in: Live Poker

Hand Question from the Merge 150kGreat spot for a squeeze pre. You don't have to be committed after a 3b pre. If you feel the orig raiser will never 4b you light then you can fold and lose much less. After calling the click back and a big turn bet without planning to showdown or shove you are just handing chips over.Posted in: Poker Advice

play fast or slow hereIt matters who called your raise first, the solid player or the maniac. If the solid player called your raise first with the maniac still behind him then I'd give him a fairly strong range. What position did he limp from' I know you have the best hand pre but all I can see him putting in big money here is with a set or strong suited Ace. I highly doubt he limped 10s - QQ. If he called first I lead out to see how he reacts and try to narrow his range down. If the maniac called first I still give him a very wide range, but this also widens the solid players range if he is closing the action and ...Posted in: Live Poker

making pot odds calls from the blinds in MTT'sIf we are playing suited connectors I believe we should be looking for something like 20-1. If we are getting into 1 gappers we need to go up to 30-1. The value of these hands is gone so short as far as calling bets. I can understand raising in pos but they are very leaky hands when short.Posted in: Poker Advice

Got forced into Short Handed Play last night and need some pointersYour ranges are good. You want to open up and be a bit more active. If you have players that are creative and can cbet air and bluff then I like floating more. If they are stations and never get off a hand then don't bother. It's more active than full ring but turns into nearly the same thing post flop. Fewer players means they will be missing more flops. You should always be attacking from late pos if folded to you.Posted in: Live Poker

does this make any sence for live full ring game?A book on shorthanded play is not going to relate to full tables. It's a different dynamic. Full ring gets a bit mechanical and plays tighter. And it's a pretty bad idea to ignore the fact that the players in the game DO matter. That will change dynamic a ton too. You should treat maniacs and nits in different ways. Typically, if a player has min raised and I want to play my Qs10s on the button I am going to 3bet. It's too easy for the blinds to come along cheaply and I want to put additional pressure when in pos. If he checks the flop I am betting. If he calls then reads come heavily into ...Posted in: Live Poker

making pot odds calls from the blinds in MTT'sThe odds seem enticing with the large antes and blinds out there but you have to consider your opponents range of hands before calling. If it's from early position and likely a pretty strong hand from the player then you are basically calling to flop a set, two pair, or a straight with a connector. You are really taking a much longer shot than the pot odds are really giving you. Even if you happen to flop top pair are you willing to stack off to an early raiser with a 7 or 8' As stated before, if it is a weak player that is very passive it is an easier spot to handle since they are playing to ...Posted in: Poker Advice

Tournaments on Carbon/BovadaYou can find up to 5k guarantees on Sundays for $3 rebuys on carbon. Nice Sunday 20k for $11 bucks. Software is crap but tournaments are pretty good considering the us poker situation. You'll find a lot of good low buyin trnys and fields are pretty weak.Posted in: Poker Sites

cash game 25nl. QQ facing 4 bet shove pre flopI just hate putting in that many bbs pre with that hand unless I have substantial proof the guy is crazy. It is ok to do against a known maniac but give yourself time to develop reads. If they do that to me early then maybe they'll bluff me off QQ. If they keep that up and I see some bs out of them then we'll just play a big pot next time. I prefer to let skill prevail over huge flips.Posted in: Poker Advice

Live 1-3 NL hand--appreciate your feedbackI don't mind a check for pot control and your hand is no so great. You are beating A3, A4, A6, A7, A8. I think you are looking to either catch a bluff or a serious donk off from 2 players in this spot. I'd fold.Posted in: Live Poker

table imageTrying to pickup reads on weaker players is important. Do they always insta-call draws, over call weak pairs, never raise strong hands, etc. Don't expect to manipulate their play out of image. Only do that to players who have proven they can fold. Sometimes you'll even hear players say, "He hasn't played a hand in a long time" as they fold. You want to learn every players habits. Choose who you make more advanced plays with carefully.Posted in: Live Poker

table imageTable image is not going to be a big factor in most 1/2 games. You can play one hand an hour and players aren't folding top pair or draws. You should really just focus on how to maximize value out of players when you can. You say you are unpredictable, but the range they put you on was way off....' So, if you are tricky then they should put you on a wide range. But, you are listening to a 1/2 players concept of image. A lot of great players started there, but I wouldn't put too much stock into what most players tell you there. You need to see which players are deep thinkers and have folded ...Posted in: Live Poker

$55 AK Preflop spot, 30BB and I really want to fold..3bet ranges get a bit wider as players get shorter. Once under 30bbs he may be looking to protect 1010+, AQs. I think you are flipping against a lot of his range. He prob isn't going any wider than AQ, but I wouldn't say it's only AA or KK. Def in his range but I think you have a good spot to shove.Posted in: Poker Advice

check raising with a marginal handYou are right that it won't go over so well in 1/2 games. Get a feel for the table. If it is full of calling stations then avoid it. If you find players that think deeply and show the ability to lay down, and if you've been showing strong hands, feel free to use it.Posted in: Poker Advice

doubts about my gameIt just sounds like growing pains. It's a simple game to learn but difficult to master. There is a lot of nuance to the game. Study more and search out as much strategy and coaching as you can. If you know anyone good that you can talk to, sweat your play, or you sweat theirs, that would be great.Posted in: Poker Advice

Major rankings changes coming 8/1I agree ROI isn't the only factor, but isn't that an important one. I've looked up a number of ranked players and some had -ROI's. One made 6k last year. Isn't beating the game a very important aspect' There should be a minimum # of trnys played to qualify to avoid ppl that hit big on a sunday. Idk, something that looks at consistency. A mix of trnys played/ROI/avg ROI/ and limits you are playing. Ranking losing players just because they have some large scores on their list is a flawed system.Posted in: Poker Community

KK OOP 4-way 51bbs facing lead + call into 8c8dQd board...I can see the lead on the flop betting a Q and flat from a flush draw. If anyone has the 8 it's the BB flatting and looking to trap/not push you out. I'd imagine the sb would check an 8 to you so you cbet. Do you have any reads' Do they flat 3bets with that wide of a range an 8 could be in there' I'd expect to see something like AQ KQ, even AdQd / KdQd from the sb to lead into you.Posted in: Poker Advice